Nutritional Combination is Possible… The Era of Growing Meat at Home Approaches

In the near future, anyone may be able to grow and eat beef using animal or fish cells at home.

On the 11th (local time), Japan's NHK reported that an exhibition showcasing home-based cultivated meat technology was held at the Osaka-Kansai Expo.

The "Osaka Healthcare Pavilion" offered a program to virtually experience a future dining table where cultivated meat is commercialized.

This cultivated meat not only allows for flexible adjustment of the ratio of lean meat to fat, but is also characterized by the ability to adjust various nutritional components such as iron, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibers.

Professor Noriya Matsuzaki of Osaka University, who leads the development of this technology, stated, "Cultivated meat is a solution to social challenges such as future protein shortages, animal protection, and the environment," adding, "Above all, we are committed to 'delicious' cultivated meat."

Professor Matsuzaki explained that "the taste of meat is related to the ratio of muscle and fat, as well as the various fibers," and it has been implemented to reproduce the texture by data-structuring actual beef structure and recreating those tissues.

This cultivated meat starts with the extraction of muscle cells from animals or fish.

Subsequently, special gel made from gelatin and other materials is used with a 3D printer to inject the cells, allowing them to grow into muscle and fat within it and form fibrous tissue.

Earlier, on the 26th of last month, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the taste, texture, and smell of sample cultivated meat pieces that were grilled.

At that time, Professor Matsuzaki reported, "After chewing several times, I felt the flavor gradually approaching that of meat, and I sensed a relatively high potential for the future."

However, at the current level of technology, it takes about 6 months to create two pieces of cultivated meat about 9 cm in height and 15 cm in width.

Furthermore, since no safety standards for cultivated meat were established during this exhibition, the tasting event was omitted.

Instead, the first step toward commercialization was taken by grilling cultivated meat and sharing the smell.

Meanwhile, as part of the event prior to the opening last month, the "Mirai Human Laundry Machine," which automatically washes users while they lie down, was also showcased at the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion.

Image source: nhk, wwdjapan